The Great Prairie Race 2026
The Goal
For youth to connect by learning about each other’s communities through fitness and a virtual meeting.
Throughout the month of February, classes and/or whole schools from across the prairie provinces (AB, SK, MB) are invited to get in motion and see how far they can move as a combined effort. For example, participants can choose to walk, run, wheel, skate, snowshoe or cross-country ski. Each time they move, they keep track of their distance covered and add it up as a group.
In 2026, 33 schools participated and tallied their distances moved for a combined total of 36,411 kms as compared to 9,138 kms in 2025!
Sign up and invite another community to join the challenge! The more communities the better!
2026 Registration Open
Thank you to all schools who participated.
Please attend our Crossing The Finish Line virtual meeting below.
Participating Schools
AB/MB Schools:
SK Schools:
Accepting The Challenge Means
- Sign up for FREE by registering your class.
- Map out a 1 km walk in your community or schoolyard or calculate how many laps around a gym = 1 km.
- Keep track of the distance moved and submit it info@northernlightsmovementforkids.ca on or before Saturday, February 28th, 2026
- The communities meet virtually at the beginning of the journey on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 (9:45 a.m. (AB); 10:45 a.m. (SK & MB).
- Send student-made Valentines. Examples of places to send Valentine’s to: youth centres, local hospital, local nursing home, local retirement home, another school that is participating in the NLMFK’s Great Prairie Race. If sending by mail, please allow enough time for delivery.
- Each school will select two student representatives to share about their community during the last virtual meeting (see below for list of questions).
and the end of the challenge on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 (9:45 a.m. (AB); 10:45 a.m. (SK & MB). - Teachers who register their class, send Valentines to the aforementioned, submit their distance moved and post evidence on NLMFK social media page of sending Valentines will be entered for a chance to win a class prize of $1100.00!
This is a great opportunity to be physically active, meet new friends, and learn about each other!
At The End of The Journey
Meet virtually to say “hello” and learn about each other by answering or sharing the information from the questions below:
- On what Treaty territory do you live?
- What is the population of your community?
- What is the population of your school?
- What are some of the most popular, healthy pastimes for youth in your community?
- What are special traditions that take place in your community?
- Name 1 or more admirable and positive role models that live or have lived in your community? Why are they admired?
During the Challenge
Wednesday, January 28 (9:45 a.m. (AB); 10:45 a.m. (SK & MB)
- Virtual Meet #1 to Kick-off the Great Prairie Race
Sunday, February 1:
- The Great Prairie Race Begins
Saturday, February 14:
- Valentine’s Day (deliver Valentines anytime beforehand)
- Jacob Leicht’s Birthday
Friday, February 27:
- Great Prairie Race Ends
- Submit Your KMs
Tuesday, March 3:
- Virtual Meet #2
- 11 Winners Will Be Drawn for $111.00 for a class party.
You Can Win! And So Can Your Class
Draws will be made for class prizes at the end of the challenge.
To be entered, teachers who register their class must:
- Submit their distance moved
- Show evidence of sending Valentines
Past Years Results
Our Chant
The Great Prairie Race!
We walk to a place
To learn about each other
Be friends with one another.
Under the same sky, what do you see?
The Northern Lights shining down on me!
The Great Prairie Race!
The Great Prairie Race!
Share Your Success
We want to hear from you! Share your journey, distance travelled, and connections made along the way. You can email us photos or share them on social media using the hashtag below.
#greatprairierace
